Matchbox and ash receptacle



June 19, 1951 R. D. BUDLONG 2,557,812

MATCHBOX AND ASH RECPTACLE Filed July 1o, 1948 Patented June 19, 1.951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCHBOX AND ASH RECEPTACLE Robert Duval Budlong, Chicago, Ill. Application July 10, 1948, Serial No. 38,050

(Cl. 20G-38) 4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a pocket container for apack of paper matches and a receptacle into which ashes may be placed.

It is a common experience for a person smoking a cigar or cigarette not to be able to nd an ash tray or suitable place to dispose of ashes or the butt of a cigarette. The primary object 01"' the present invention is to provide a small and attractive container which is adequate to hold matches and a reasonable amount of ashes. The device-,is small enough to fit into a mans vest pocket or a womans hand bag conveniently.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for a closure cover, so that the device may be assembled easily. v Another object of the invention is to provide a case of plastic material with a thin partition Wall of spring metal which will not only divide the container into two compartments but also will cooperate in holding the cover assembled and in a desired open or closed position.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the match holding side of the container; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken as indicated at line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device inverted with the cover to the ash re,- ceptacle in raised position; and Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, taken as indicated at line #-4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated, the body portion preferably is molded of plastic material and has side walls 5, a narrow end wall 6, and a wide curved end wall 1. The side Walls 5 are provided with thin inwardly extending iingers 8 under which a pack of matches may be slipped, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The end wall 1 is provided with an inwardly extending finger 9, to which a spring metal partition wall Ill maybe held by a rivet I I.

'Ihe partition wall Il] divides the container into an open face match compartment I2 and an opposed ash receiving compartment I3. The end wall 6 is extended rearwardly towards the end wall 7, as indicated at I4, and its end portion is roundedto form a bearing, as indicated at I5.

A cover member IE, which also may be made of plastic material, is adapted to form a closure for the outer portion of the vash receptacle I3, and the rear portion of the cover member has a rounded upwardly open bearing portion I'I, which is adapted to engage the bearing I5. The end ofthe bearing portion is thickened. as indicated at I8, so as to bear against the yielding spring metal wall I0 and frictionally tend to hold the cover in open or closed position.

'I'he metal partition Wall I0 has a slot L9 which is adapted to be engaged by a small detent on the end of the cover member I6. This detent helps to hold the cover I6 in the position shown in Fig. 3, and resists its being turned to a more open position where it might accidentally be detached from the container.

To install the cover on the container, it is .merely necessary to depress the yielding metal wall Il) and snap the bearing portion of the cover into the position shown in Fig. 3. Afpack of matches can be installed in the opposite side, as explained above, and when it is desired to withdraw a match it is merely necessary to raise the paper ap of the match pack and the. abrasive material of the match pack is exposed. At any time when it is desired to deposit ashes in the receptacle, the container is merely turned over and the cover raised. A burning cigarette may be pressed against the metal surface, if it is desired to extinguish it, and the ashes and butt of the cigarette may be carried in the container until it is convenient to empty it. It Will be noted that the bearing portion of the cover closes the narrow end portion of the ash receptacle so that there is no danger of ashes falling through the opening I9.

The foregoing detailed description is given forV clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A pocket container comprising a body member having side walls and a spring metal partition wall dividing said body member transversely into two opposed compartments, one of said compartments being open-faced and having 'retaining means for gripping a pack of paper matches and the other compartment forming an ash receptacle, said partition wall having an aperture therein near one end, said body member having a bearing portion near the aperture in said partition wall, and a cover member forming a closure for said ash receptacle having a bearing portion complementary to that on said body member and adapted to be snapped into engagement with said bearing portion of the body member by flexing said partition wall, said cover member having a projecting finger adapted to engage the aperture in said partition wall to limit the opening movement of said cover.

2. A pocket container comprising a body member having side walls and a partition Wall dividing said body member transversely into two opposed compartments, one of said compartments being open-faced and adapted to contain a pack of paper matches and the other compartment forming an ash receptacle, said partition Wall being secured at one end only with the remaining three sides free, said body member having a bearing portion formed thereon near the free end of said partition wall, and a cover member forming a closure for said ash receptacle having a bearing portion complementary to that formed on said body member with the bearing portion of said cover member interposed between the bearing portion of said body member and the partition wall to be removably held hingedly connected to the body member by said partition wall,

3. A pocket container comprising a body member having side walls and a partition wall dividing said body member transversely into tWo opposed compartments, one of said compartments being open-faced to receive a pack of paper matches therein and the other compartment forming an ash receptacle, said partition Wall being resiliently yieldable and having an aperture formed therein near one end thereof, a face Wall portion opposite the aperture in said partition wall terminating in a rounded, inturned, bead-like, bearing-forming portion and a cover member forming a closure for said ash receptacle having at one end an outwardly opening grooved bead forming a bearing portion complementary to that on said body member, said cover member being hingedly attached to said body member by insertion of said grooved bead between said inturned bead on said body member and said partition wall, with the partition wall in engage- 4 ment with said grooved bead, said cover member having an extension engaging the aperture in said partition Wall limiting the opening movement of said cover member.

4. A pocket container comprising: a. body member having side Walls and a resiliently yieldable partition wall dividing said body transversely y matches, leaving the front cover free, and a cover member hinged to said body member so as to form a closure for said ash receptacle, said cover member having an inwardly extending portion engaging said partition wall to be thereby disengageably retained on said body member and frictionally held in a desired position.

ROBERT DUVAL BUDLONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 879,851 Bonnell Feb. 25, 1908 1,930,109 Rosmait Oct. 10, 17933 2,329,175 Gits Sept. 14, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 38,752 Norway Jan. 14, 1924 

